U.S. patent number 9,961,387 [Application Number 14/876,938] was granted by the patent office on 2018-05-01 for profile-based content variation.
This patent grant is currently assigned to KT Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is KT Corporation. Invention is credited to Jungho Choi, Soyoung Eom, Kwan-yeol Lee, Ik-chan Uhm, Young-Hwan Yu.
United States Patent |
9,961,387 |
Uhm , et al. |
May 1, 2018 |
Profile-based content variation
Abstract
Profile-based content variation includes determining viewing
trends for a television viewing device based on subscriber
information and a channel selection history of the television
viewing device, matching commerce channels to at least one logical
channel based on the determined viewing trends, and broadcasting
one of the logical channels that matches one of the selected
commerce channels.
Inventors: |
Uhm; Ik-chan (Incheon,
KR), Eom; Soyoung (Incheon, KR), Yu;
Young-Hwan (Seoul, KR), Lee; Kwan-yeol (Asan-si,
KR), Choi; Jungho (Seongnam-si, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KT Corporation |
Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do |
N/A |
KR |
|
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Assignee: |
KT Corporation (Seongnam-si,
Gyeonggi-Do, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
55633752 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/876,938 |
Filed: |
October 7, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160100207 A1 |
Apr 7, 2016 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 7, 2014 [KR] |
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10-2014-0135260 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/25891 (20130101); H04N 21/252 (20130101); H04N
21/258 (20130101); H04N 21/251 (20130101); H04N
21/25883 (20130101); H04N 21/47815 (20130101); H04N
21/2668 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
7/16 (20110101); H04N 21/258 (20110101); H04N
21/478 (20110101); H04N 21/25 (20110101); H04N
21/2668 (20110101); H04H 60/33 (20080101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1020040017581 |
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Feb 2004 |
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KR |
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1020070087383 |
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Aug 2007 |
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KR |
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1020100027663 |
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Mar 2010 |
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KR |
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1020130093351 |
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Aug 2013 |
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KR |
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Primary Examiner: Montoya; Oschta
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Brundidge & Stanger, P.C.
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of providing profile-based content variation,
comprising: determining viewing trends for a television viewing
device based on subscriber information and channel selection
history of the television viewing device; matching one of a
plurality of commerce channels with multiple logical channels based
on the determined viewing trends; broadcasting, to the television
viewing device, one of the multiple logical channels that is
matched to one of the commerce channels that is selected based on
information regarding matches between one of the plurality of
commerce channels to the multiple logical channels; updating the
determined viewing trends; and updating the multiple logical
channels matched with the one of the commerce channels based on the
updated viewing trends.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a
plurality of categories of commerce channels to the television
viewing device; receiving a selected one of the plurality of
categories from the television viewing device; and transmitting at
least one of the commerce channels corresponding to the selected
category.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein an order of the at least one
commerce channels corresponding to the selected category is updated
based on the determined viewing trends.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a
plurality of categories of commerce channels to the television
viewing device; receiving a selected one of the plurality of
categories from the television viewing device; and broadcasting one
of the multiple logical channels that is matched one of the
commerce channels corresponding to the selected category.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber information
includes at least one of an age, a residential location, and a
gender of a corresponding subscriber.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel selection history
includes at least one of viewing hours for respective ones of the
commerce channels and purchases made from the television viewing
device.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting
information regarding matches between one of the plurality of
commerce channels to the multiple logical channels to the
television viewing device.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing trends for the
television viewing device are determined periodically, and
information regarding matches between one of the plurality of
commerce channels to the multiple logical channels is updated in
real time or periodically based on the periodically determined
viewing trends for the television viewing device.
9. A commerce channel server, comprising: a viewing trend analyzer
configured to determine viewing trends for a television viewing
device based on subscriber information and channel selection
history of the television viewing device; a matching information
manager configured to match one of a plurality of commerce channels
to multiple logical channels based on the determined viewing
trends; and a channel broadcaster configured to broadcast, to the
television viewing device, one of the multiple logical channels
that is matched to one of the commerce channels that is selected
based on information regarding matches between one of the plurality
of commerce channels to the multiple logical channels, wherein the
viewing trend analyzer is further configured to update the
determined viewing trends, and the matching information manager is
further configured to update the multiple logical channels matched
with the one of the commerce channels based on the updated viewing
trends.
10. The server of claim 9, further comprising: a category
transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of categories of the
commerce channels to the television viewing device.
11. The server of claim 9, further comprising: a matching
information transmitter configured to transmit information
regarding matches between one of the plurality of commerce channels
to the multiple logical channels to the television viewing
device.
12. A commerce channel system, comprising: a commerce channel
server; and a television viewing device, wherein the commerce
channel server comprises: a viewing trend analyzer configured to
determine viewing trends for a television viewing device based on
subscriber information and channel selection history of the
television viewing device, a matching information manager
configured to match one of the plurality of commerce channels with
multiple logical channels based on the determined viewing, and a
channel broadcaster configured to broadcast, to the television
viewing device, one of the multiple logical channels that is
matched to one of the commerce channels that is selected based on
information regarding matches between one of the plurality of
commerce channels to the multiple logical channels; and wherein the
television viewing device comprises: an input receiver configured
to input to select a commerce channel from among the plurality of
commerce channels, a transmitter configured to transmit content for
the selected commerce channel to the commerce channel server, and a
channel receiver configured to receive, from the commerce channel
server, at least one of the multiple logical channels that is
matched with the selected commerce channel, wherein the viewing
trend analyzer is further configured to update the determined
viewing trends, and the matching information manager is further
configured to update the multiple logical channels matched with the
one of the commerce channels based on the updated viewing
trends.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the commerce channel server
further comprises: a category transmitter configured to transmit a
plurality of categories of the commerce channels to the television
viewing device; a category receiver configured to receive a
selected one of the categories; a channel transmitter configured to
transmit content corresponding to at least one commerce channel
corresponding to the selected category; and a channel receiver
configured to receive the content corresponding to the transmitted
commerce channel.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the commerce channel server
further comprises: a category transmitter configured to transmit
the plurality of the categories of the commerce channels to the
television viewing device; and a category receiver configured to
receive a selected one of the categories, wherein the channel
broadcaster is configured to broadcast one of the multiple logical
channels that is matched to the commerce channel corresponding to
the selected category.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the subscriber information
includes at least one of an age, a residential location, and gender
of a corresponding subscriber.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein the channel selection history
includes at least one of viewing hours for respective ones of the
commerce channels and purchases made from the television viewing
device.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the commerce channel server
further comprises: a matching information transmitter configured to
transmit the matching information to the television viewing
device.
18. The system of claim 12, wherein the viewing trend analyzer is
further configured to determine the viewing trends for the
television viewing device periodically, and wherein the matching
information manager is further configured to update the information
regarding matches between one of the plurality of commerce channels
to multiple logical channels in real time or periodically based on
the periodically determined viewing trends for the television
viewing device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The embodiments described herein pertain generally to providing
targeted content from commerce-related media outlets to a
subscriber, based on profile information for the subscriber.
BACKGROUND
With the continued growth of home shopping networks, traditional
"brick and mortar" stores and shops have declined in popularity
and, consequently, availability. However, viewers or subscribers to
such home shopping networks have exchanged the convenience of
location for being subjected to the broadcast preferences of the
content provider.
SUMMARY
In one example embodiment, a method of providing profile-based
content variation includes: determining viewing trends for a
television viewing device based on subscriber information and a
channel selection history of the television viewing device;
matching one or more commerce channels with at least one logical
channel based on the determined viewing trends; and broadcasting,
to the television viewing device, one of the logical channels that
matches one of the commerce channels that is selected based on
information regarding matches between one or more of the commerce
channels to one of the logical channels.
In another example embodiment, a commerce channel server includes:
a viewing trend analyzer configured to determine viewing trends for
a television viewing device based on subscriber information and
channel selection history of the television viewing device; a
matching information manager configured to match one or more
commerce channels to at least one logical channel based on the
determined viewing trends; and a channel broadcaster configured to
broadcast, to the television viewing device, one of the logical
channels that matches one of the commerce channels that is selected
based on information regarding matches between one or more of the
plurality of commerce channels to at least one logical channel.
In yet another example embodiment, a commerce channel system,
includes a commerce channel server; and a television viewing
device. The commerce channel server comprises: a viewing trend
analyzer configured to determine viewing trends for a television
viewing device based on subscriber information and channel
selection history of the television viewing device, a matching
information manager configured to match one or more of the
plurality of commerce channels with at least one logical channel
based on the determined viewing, and a channel broadcaster
configured to broadcast, to the television viewing device, one of
the at least one logical channel that is matched to one of the
commerce channels that is selected based on information regarding
matches between one or more of the plurality of commerce channels
to at least one logical channel. The television viewing device
comprises: an input receiver configured to input to select a
commerce channel from among the plurality of commerce channels, a
transmitter configured to transmit content for the selected
commerce channel to the commerce channel server, and a channel
receiver configured to receive, from the commerce channel server,
at least one of the logical channels that matches with the selected
commerce channel.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to
be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects,
embodiments, and features described above, further aspects,
embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the
drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the detailed description that follows, embodiments are described
as illustrations only since various changes and modifications will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description. The use of the same reference numbers in
different figures indicates similar or identical items.
FIG. 1 shows an example system configuration in which profile-based
content variation may be implemented, arranged in accordance with
one or more embodiments described herein;
FIG. 2 shows an example configuration of a commerce channel server
by which at least portions of profile-based content variation may
be implemented, arranged in accordance with one or more embodiments
described herein;
FIG. 3 shows an example depiction of a flow of data in accordance
with at least one implementation of profile-based content variation
may be implemented, as described herein;
FIG. 4 shows an example block depiction of a user interface (UI)
showing categories of variable content, arranged in accordance with
one or more embodiments of profile-based content variation
described herein;
FIG. 5 shows an example processing flow of operations for
implementing at least portions of profile-based content variation,
arranged in accordance with one or more embodiments described
herein;
FIG. 6 shows another example processing flow of operations for
implementing at least portions of profile-based content variation,
arranged in accordance with one or more embodiments described
herein; and
FIG. 7 shows an example computing device on which and by which at
least portions of profile-based content variation may be
implemented, arranged in accordance with one or more embodiments
described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, unless otherwise
noted, the description of each successive drawing may reference
features from one or more of the previous drawings to provide
clearer context and a more substantive explanation of the current
example embodiment. Still, the example embodiments described in the
detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be
limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may
be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject
matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the
aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein
and illustrated in the drawings, may be arranged, substituted,
combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated
herein.
For the sake of consistency, the discussion of profile-based
content variation hereafter may include references to
"applications," "processes," and "operations," all of which may
encompass any one of, at least, software programs, and
applications, either singularly or in combination.
Described herein are systems, methods, apparatuses, applications,
and/or programs by which commerce-related media outlets can
transmit targeted content to a subscriber, based on profile
information for the subscriber. Though not limiting, the
embodiments of commerce-related media outlets are described in the
context of one or more home shopping channels.
In accordance with the embodiments described herein, television
viewing trends, including channel selection history, for a
subscriber or subscribing household are recorded and analyzed. The
viewing trends may include, but not be limited to, times of day
during which commerce-related media is viewed by the subscriber or
subscribing household; lengths of times in which commerce-related
media is viewed by the subscriber or subscribing household;
preferred channels, measured in terms of amounts of time accessed,
lengths of time accessed, and/or by whom in a subscribing household
preferred channels of commerce-related media are viewed. The
viewing trends may be further attributed to a particular television
viewing device, which may include, but not be limited to, a
television, a television set-top box, a cable television receiver,
a direct-to-satellite receiver, etc. Also recorded and utilized to
provide profile-based content variation is a demographic profile of
a subscriber or members of a subscribing household. The demographic
profile may include, but by no means be limited to, age, gender,
occupation, salary, marital status, parenting status, hobbies, etc.
Such demographic information may be gathered and stored any time
after which the subscriber or subscribing household subscribes to
at least television services provided by a media content provider.
Such media content may include, but not be limited to, television
content, internet services, and/or cellular telephone services.
Based on the recorded commerce-related media viewing trends,
including channel selection history, as well as the profile(s) for
a particular subscriber or subscribing household, a commerce
channel server may be able to target a particular home shopping
channel, selected based on a preferred demographic, to a television
viewing device corresponding to the subscriber or subscribing
household. Further, a logical channel number, or virtual channel,
may be selected to broadcast the targeted home shopping channel to
the aforementioned television viewing device.
That is, since there are limited channel resources by which home
shopping networks broadcast, the embodiments described herein are
intended to implement, e.g., efficient utilization of broadcasting
resources. Accordingly, subscribers or subscribing households may
receive defaults commerce related content, e.g., home shopping
channels, or even recommendations thereof that are likely to be of
interest.
FIG. 1 shows an example system configuration in which profile-based
content variation may be implemented, arranged in accordance with
one or more embodiments described herein. As depicted,
configuration 100 includes, at least, a network 105; a commerce
channel server 110, and a television viewing device 115.
Network 105 may include, but not be limited to, a broadcast network
for television programming. Such broadcasting may be implemented
utilizing radio-wave transmissions for video signals, cable
television network, e.g., coaxial cables, direct-broadcast
satellite network, etc., utilized for broadcasting electronic media
to public or subscription based audiences. Thus, network 105 may
additionally or alternatively include a computer network, the
Internet, a telephone network, a TCT/IP data network (wide area
networks, metropolitan area networks, local area networks, campus
area networks, virtual private networks), and any other processing
and/or computing devices capable of providing at least
server-to-client communications.
Network 105 may be configured to facilitate the broadcast of
virtual channels, or logical channels, which may be regarded as
channel numbers that can be entered digitally (e.g., via remote
control), remapped from H.222 Program Association Tables and
Program Mapping Tables.
Virtual channels, or logical channel numbers, may be utilized to
group multiple channels based on content, origin, or even for
localizing advertisements to a particular commerce-related media
market. Without the intent of implying limitations, reference will
be made hereafter to virtual channels, though logical channel
numbers may be alternately utilized, unless a distinction is made
necessary.
Commerce channel server 110 may be a computing device configured,
programmed, and/or designed to receive and/or store
commerce-related media content, e.g., for one or more home shopping
networks, and direct or target the broadcast of such content over
network 105 to one or more embodiments of television viewing device
115. Commerce channel server 110 may target or direct the broadcast
of commerce-related media content to television viewing device 115
based on, at least, viewing trends for a corresponding subscriber
or subscribing household and/or at least portions of a demographic
profile of the subscriber or members of the subscribing household.
As implemented by a commerce-related media content source, e.g.,
Internet-service provider, free-air television provider, cable
television provider, or satellite television provider, commerce
channel server 110 may be configured as, as examples only, an
application server, a standalone server, a web server, and any
other devices being capable of, at least, receiving data analog
and/or digital media content, classifying or categorizing the
received media content, and transmitting or broadcasting particular
classifications or categories of the media content to particular
ones of television viewing devices 115 based on respectively
corresponding viewing trends and/or subscriber-based profile
demographics.
Commerce channel server 110 may be configured, programmed, and/or
designed to gather, receive, and/or store data pertaining to
viewing trends for television viewing device 115 based on
corresponding subscriber information and channel selection history;
analyze the viewing trend data; match one or more of a plurality of
commerce-related media channels to at least one logical channel
based on the determined viewing trends; and transmit and/or
broadcast, to television viewing device 115, at least one logical
channel that matches one of the commerce channels that is selected
based on information regarding matches between the commerce
channels to at least one logical channel.
Additionally, or alternatively, commerce channel server 110 may be
configured, programmed, and/or designed to transmit categories of
the commerce-related media content channels to television viewing
device 115, and/or transmit information regarding matches between
one or more of the commerce channels with at least one logical
channel to television viewing device 115.
Television viewing device 115 may refer to an electronic device
that is configured to receive analog and/or digital media content
from commerce-channel server 110 over network 105, as described
below. Television viewing device 115 may also be implemented as a
television set-top box, a smart TV, a personal computer, a tablet
computing device, or a laptop computer. Additionally or
alternatively, television viewing device 115 may be implemented as
a portion of a small-form factor portable (or mobile) electronic
device such as a mobile phone, cell phone, smartphone, personal
data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, an
application specific device, or a hybrid device that include any of
the above functions.
Television viewing device 115 may also be configured, programmed,
and/or designed to select a commerce-related media channel from
among multiple ones transmitted or broadcast from commerce channel
server 110, transmit a request for a selected commerce-related
media content channel to commerce channel server 110, and/or
receive, from commerce channel server 110, at least one logical
channel that matches the selected commerce-related media content
channel.
FIG. 2 shows an example configuration of commerce channel server
110, by which at least portions of profile-based content variation
may be implemented. Commerce channel server 110 may be hosted and
implemented, at least in part, by a commerce-related media content
source, e.g., Internet-service provider, free-air television
provider, cable television provider, or satellite television
provider. Commerce channel server 110 may include, but not be
limited to, channel organizer 205, viewing trend analyzer 210,
matching information manager 215, channel broadcaster 220, request
receiver 225, category transmitter 230, and information transmitter
235. These components may be implemented in a computing environment
relative to commerce channel server 110, and may be stored in a
corresponding memory storage device. By way of example, commerce
channel server 110, which may alternatively be implemented as a
programmable application, may reside on a memory device of a server
or combination of servers. For purposes of illustration, the
application or program, including executable program components,
are illustrated herein as discrete blocks, although it is
recognized that such programs and components reside at various
times in different storage components of the corresponding client
device, and may be executed by at least one data processor of the
computer.
Channel organizer 205 may refer to a module or component that is
designed, programmed, and/or configured to, e.g., to serve as a
variable channel component that organizes or associates virtual, or
numbered logical channels, to an original channel number used under
analog broadcasts for commerce channel server 110. The virtual, or
logical, channels may be organized based on subject matter. For
example, with reference to the data flow depicted in FIG. 3,
described further herein, channel organizer 205 may assign
commerce-related media content programming for baby goods to
virtual channel A1 310A; commerce programming for sporting goods to
virtual channel A2 310B; commerce programming for home supplies to
virtual channel A3 310C; and commerce programming for garden
supplies to virtual channel A4 310D.
As referenced herein, commerce programming may include streaming
content or sharing of files, of any format, that may be streamed or
transmitted via network 105. Such programming may include, but not
be limited to, commerce-related television content, both one-time
events and episodic series. Further, commerce channel server 110
may be hosted and/or implemented by a media content service
provider that provides subscribers or one-off customers with
commerce-related media content, e.g., home shopping network
programming. Such content may be provided for free or for a
subscription fee.
Viewing trend pattern analyzer 210 may refer to a module or
component that is designed, programmed, and/or configured to
gather, receive, and/or store data pertaining to viewing trends for
television viewing device 115 based on corresponding subscriber
information and channel selection history; analyze such data and
determine viewing trends for television viewing device 115.
Accordingly, viewing trend pattern analyzer 210 may detect, for
respective embodiments of television viewing device 115, viewing
trends that may include, but not be limited to, times of day during
which television viewing device 115 is powered on, and to which
channels including, but not necessarily limited to, channels having
commerce-related media programming; lengths of times for which
television viewing device 115 is powered on, and to which channels;
preferred channels, measured in terms of amounts of time accessed,
lengths of time accessed, and/or by whom in a subscribing household
the preferred channels are viewed. In addition to attributing the
viewing trends to television viewing device 115, which may include,
but not be limited to, a television, a television set-top box, a
cable television receiver, a direct-to-satellite receiver, etc.,
the recorded viewing trends may be attributed to a subscriber or
members of a subscribing household corresponding to television
viewing device 115. Such attribution to particular members of a
subscribing household may be implemented on a general level, based
on a demographic profile registered with a service provider; or, in
addition or alternatively, as a viewer enters an identifier on,
e.g., a remote control or is otherwise recognized by television
viewing device 115.
As a simple example, viewing trend analyzer 210 may detect a
subscriber corresponding to television viewing device 115 regularly
spending time on weekday mornings viewing a channel that broadcasts
home shopping network programming for baby products.
Cross-referencing such viewing trend information with previously
received subscriber information that the subscribing household
includes a 30-year-old husband and wife, viewing trend analyzer 210
may determine that corresponding television viewing device 115
should, by default or by suggestion, receive commerce-related
content from a virtual channel or numbered logical channel that
specializes in baby goods or sporting goods, befitting a healthy
lifestyle for the demographics for the subscribing household.
Further, viewing trend analyzer 210 may periodically update such
preferences, tendencies, and characteristics to account for the
passage of time, occurrence of life events (e.g., births,
birthdays, anniversaries, deaths, etc.). Such periodic updates may
occur monthly, seasonally, annually, etc.
Matching information manager 215 may refer to a module or component
that is designed, programmed, and/or configured to match one or
more of a plurality of virtual or logical channel numbers
corresponding to a commerce-related content channel, e.g., home
shopping network, to a respective television viewing device, based
on subscriber information and/or the recorded channel selection
history. Accordingly, matching information manager 215 may be
designed, programmed, and/or configured to match the subject matter
of a particular commerce-related content, e.g., a sports-themed
home shopping channel, which may be broadcast on any one of
multiple virtual channels or logical channel numbers, to a
prioritized demographic for a subscriber corresponding to
television viewing device 115. The matching may be regarded as
mapping targeted home shopping content to an identified
demographic, based on profile information and/or viewing
trends.
As referenced above, virtual channels or logical channel numbers
may be utilized to group multiple channels based on content,
origin, or even for localizing advertisements to a particular
market. For example, the assignment of virtual channels in the
United States is defined within the stream via terrestrial or cable
versions of a "Virtual Channel Table" as outlined by ATSC document
"A/65", Annex B. Rules for assignment of major channel numbers are
as follows:
Existing analog stations were assigned a major channel number
matching their existing analog number;
New digital stations assigned to a channel whose matching major
channel number is not in use must use that number; and
New digital stations assigned to a channel whose matching major
channel number is in use (by a former analog station) reciprocate,
using the major channel number that matches the actual channel of
the station in question.
Channel broadcaster 220 may refer to a module or component that is
designed, programmed, and/or configured to transmit or broadcast
the programming content corresponding to the matched virtual
channel or logical channel number from commerce channel server 110
to television viewing device 115, via network 105.
Request receiver 225 may refer to a module or component that is
designed, programmed, and/or configured to receive requests, from
television viewing device 115, for a listing of virtual channels
and/or logical channel numbers for one or more commerce-related
content channels, e.g., home shopping networks. Such requests may
include, e.g., a listing of categories of commerce channels, a
listing of virtual channels and/or logical channel numbers
corresponding to respective commerce-related content channel
categories, a listing of categories of virtual channels and/or
logical channel numbers, etc.
Category transmitter 230 may refer to a module or component that is
designed, programmed, and/or configured to transmit or broadcast,
to a requesting embodiment of television viewing device 115, a
requested listing of categories of commerce channels, virtual
channels, logical channel numbers, etc., in response to a request
received by request receiver 225.
Information transmitter 235 may refer to a module or component that
is designed, programmed, and/or configured to transmit or
broadcast, from commerce channel server 110 to television viewing
device 115 via network 105, information regarding matches between a
commerce-related content channel, e.g., home shopping network, and
corresponding virtual channels and/or logical channel numbers. That
is, information transmitter 235 may transmit, to television viewing
device 115, matches between respective virtual channels and/or
logical channel numbers that match with a prioritized demographic
and/or a recorded viewing trend of a subscriber or subscriber
family that correspond to television viewing device 115.
FIG. 3 shows an example depiction of a flow of data in accordance
with at least one implementation of profile-based content variation
may be implemented, as described herein. Data flow 300 may be
implemented by any of the embodiments, or components thereof,
referenced previously regarding the system in FIG. 1 and apparatus
of FIG. 2.
Data flow 300 may be implemented as the flow of commerce channel
content, e.g., home shopping network programming, virtual channel
or logical channel number listings, etc., broadcast or transmitted
from commerce channel server 110 to television viewing device 115
via network 105.
Channel A 305 may represent a commerce channel, e.g., home shopping
network, having multiple, e.g., 1-N, virtual channels or logical
channel numbers, by which commerce channel content may be broadcast
or transmitted to subscribers.
Block 310 may represent a compilation of 1-N virtual channels or
numbered logical channels from which separate commerce-related
content may be broadcast or transmitted from Channel A 305 on
commerce channel server 110. As examples only, and not in any way
intended to be limiting in quantity or in terms of subject matter,
block 310 is depicted as including virtual channels, or numbered
logical channels, Channel A1 310A, Channel A2 310B, Channel A3
310C, and Channel A4 310D. The virtual channels, or numbered
logical channels, correspond respectively to Baby Goods 315,
Sporting Goods 320, Home Supplies 325, and Garden Supplies 330.
The respective virtual channels of block 310 are channels displayed
on digital television tuners corresponding to television viewing
device 115 that are different than channel A 305, on which the
corresponding signal is digitally broadcast over network 105. The
corresponding channel number is displayed through a process called
Program and Station Information Protocol (PSIP) and is the original
channel number the station used under analog broadcasts. When the
respective virtual channel or logical channel number is entered
into a digital tuner, it is displayed as the virtual channel
automatically.
Block 340 may represent various embodiments of television viewing
device 115. The respective embodiments of television viewing device
are illustrated as being represented by example identifiers, used
by commerce channel server 110 to transmit or broadcast targeted
content. As set forth above, the respective embodiments of
television viewing device 115 may include, but not be limited to, a
television, a television set-top box, a cable television receiver,
a direct-to-satellite receiver, etc. Accordingly, as examples only,
block 340 may include examples of set-top boxes, e.g., receivers
for cable, satellite, or even Internet television signals,
respectively identified as ST0001, ST0002, ST0003, and ST0004.
As depicted, channel A 305, which may be hosted on a memory or
streamed by a processor of commerce channel server 110, may
transmit or broadcast programming content corresponding to the
respective virtual channels or numbered logical channels of block
310 to the respective embodiments of television viewing device 115
of block 340, via network 105.
As set forth previously in the description of FIG. 2, if it is
detected that a subscriber corresponding to television viewing
device 115 regularly spends time on weekday mornings viewing a home
shopping network that sells baby products, such viewing trend
information may be cross-referenced with previously received
subscriber information that, e.g., the subscribing household
includes a 30-year-old husband and wife. It may then be determined
that television viewing device 115, identified as ST0001, should,
by default, receive commerce-related content from Channel A1 310A
that specializes in baby goods and/or Channel A2 310B that
specializes in sporting goods, befitting a healthy lifestyle for
the demographics for the subscribing household.
FIG. 4 shows an example block depiction of a user interface (UI)
showing categories of variable content, arranged in accordance with
one or more embodiments of profile-based content variation
described herein.
Block 405 may represent a UI that shows, among other features, a
listing of categories of commerce channels, a listing of virtual
channels and/or logical channel numbers corresponding to respective
commerce channel categories, a listing of categories of virtual
channels and/or logical channel numbers, etc. The listing of
categories of commerce channels, virtual channels, logical channel
numbers, etc., may be transmitted or broadcast to a requesting
embodiment of television viewing device 115 in response to a
request received by request receiver 225.
FIG. 5 shows an example processing flow of operations 500 for
implementing at least portions of profile-based content variation,
arranged in accordance with one or more embodiments described
herein. Process 500 may be implemented by any of the embodiments,
components thereof, or data flow referenced previously regarding
FIGS. 1-3. According to the description of the operations in FIG.
5, any of the operations depicted and described herein may be
implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a
computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructions may,
for example, be executed by a processor of any one of commerce
channel commerce channel server 110 and/or television viewing
device 115, as referenced herein, having a network element and/or
any other device corresponding thereto, particularly as applicable
to the applications and/or programs described above corresponding
to the configuration 100 for profile-based content variation.
Further, example process 500 may include one or more operations,
actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more blocks 505,
510, and 515. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various
blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer
blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation.
Processing may begin at block 505.
Block 505 (Determine Channel Viewing Patterns) may refer to viewing
trend analyzer 210 receiving, retrieving, and/or storing objective
data regarding viewing habits for a subscriber or subscribing
household corresponding to an embodiment of television viewing
device 115; and then analyzing such data for the purpose of
implementing profile-based content variation, i.e., providing
variable commerce-related media channel content. More particularly,
block 505 may include viewing trend analyzer 210 analyzing the
aforementioned objective data to determine viewing trends that may
include, but not be limited to, usual times of day during which
television viewing device 115 is powered on, and to which channels
including, but not limited to, commerce-related content channels;
lengths of times for which television viewing device 115 is powered
on, and to which channels; preferred channels, measured in terms of
amounts of time accessed, lengths of time accessed, and/or by whom
in a subscribing household the preferred channels are viewed. Such
trends may be determined based on averages or threshold values
utilized in known statistical analysis of television and/or online
viewing habits. In addition to attributing the viewing trends to
television viewing device 115, which may include, but not be
limited to, a television, a television set-top box, a cable
television receiver, a direct-to-satellite receiver, etc., the
recorded viewing trends determined at block 505 may be attributed
to a subscriber or members of a subscribing household corresponding
to television viewing device 115. Block 505 may be followed by
block 510.
Block 510 (Generate Matching Information) may refer to matching
information manager 215 matching the determined viewing patterns
attributable to a subscriber or subscribing household corresponding
to television viewing device 115 to one or more of a plurality of
virtual or logical channel numbers corresponding to a commerce
channel, e.g., home shopping network. Accordingly, block 510 may
include matching information manager 215 matching the subject
matter of a particular commerce-related content channel, e.g., a
sports-themed home shopping channel, which may be broadcast on any
one of multiple virtual channels or logical channel numbers, to a
prioritized demographic for a subscriber or subscribing household
corresponding to television viewing device 115. Thus, the operation
at block 510 may be regarded as mapping targeted home shopping
content to an identified demographic, based on profile information
and/or viewing trends. Block 510 may be followed by block 515.
Block 515 (Broadcast One Logical Channel) may refer to channel
broadcaster 220 transmitting or broadcasting programming content
corresponding to the matched virtual channel or logical channel
number from commerce channel server 110 to television viewing
device 115, via network 105.
FIG. 6 shows another example processing flow of operations 600 for
implementing at least portions of profile-based content variation,
arranged in accordance with one or more embodiments described
herein. Process 600 may be implemented by any of the embodiments,
components thereof, or data flow referenced previously regarding
FIGS. 1-3, and may be regarded as an extension or even alternative
to the processing flow of operations depicted and described with
regard to FIG. 5. According to the description of the operations in
FIG. 6, any of the operations depicted and described herein may be
implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a
computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructions may,
for example, be executed by a processor of any one of commerce
channel commerce channel server 110 and/or television viewing
device 115, as referenced herein, having a network element and/or
any other device corresponding thereto, particularly as applicable
to the applications and/or programs described above corresponding
to the configuration 100 for profile-based content variation.
Further, example process 500 may include one or more operations,
actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more blocks 605,
610, 615, and 620. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various
blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer
blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation.
Processing may begin at block 605.
Block 605 (Receive Request from Viewing Device) may refer to
request receiver 225 receiving requests, from television viewing
device 115, for a listing of virtual channels and/or logical
channel numbers for one or more commerce channels, e.g., home
shopping networks. Such request may be automated, generated and
sent by television viewing device 115; or, additionally or
alternatively, such request may be generated and entered by a
subscriber or member of the subscribing household corresponding to
television viewing device 115. Regardless of the source, such
requests may include, e.g., a listing of categories of commerce
channels, a listing of virtual channels and/or logical channel
numbers corresponding to respective commerce channel categories, a
listing of categories of virtual channels and/or logical channel
numbers, etc. Block 605 may be followed by block 610.
Block 610 (Transmit Categories) may refer to category transmitter
230 transmitting or broadcasting, to requesting television viewing
device 115, the requested listing of categories of commerce
channels, virtual channels, logical channel numbers, etc., in
response to the request. Block 610 may be followed by block
615.
Block 615 (Received Selected Category) may refer to matching
information manager 215, request receiver 225, and/or channel
broadcaster 220 receiving a selected category of commerce channel
content from requesting television viewing device 115. The received
category may be stored in a memory corresponding to commerce
channel server 110, in a database corresponding to the subscriber
or subscribing household. Block 615 may be followed by block
620.
Block 620 (Broadcast Logical Channel) may refer to channel
broadcaster 220 transmitting or broadcasting programming content
corresponding to the matched category from commerce channel server
110 to television viewing device 115, via network 105.
FIG. 7 shows an illustrative computing embodiment, in which any of
the processes and sub-processes of profile-based content variation
may be implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a
computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructions may,
for example, be executed by a processor of any one of commerce
channel commerce channel server 110 and/or television viewing
device 115, as referenced herein, having a network element and/or
any other device corresponding thereto, particularly as applicable
to the applications and/or programs described above corresponding
to the configuration 100 for profile-based content variation.
In a very basic configuration, a computing device 700 may typically
include, at least, one or more processors 705 and a system memory
710. Computing device 500 may also include one or more input
components 715, one or more output components 720, a display
component 725, a computer-readable medium 730, and a transceiver
735.
Processor(s) 705 may refer to, e.g., a microprocessor, a
microcontroller, a digital signal processor, or any combination
thereof.
Memory 710 may refer to, e.g., a volatile memory, non-volatile
memory, or any combination thereof. Memory 710 may store, therein,
an operating system, an application, and/or program data. That is,
memory 710 may store executable instructions to implement any of
the functions or operations described above and, therefore, memory
710 may be regarded as a computer-readable medium.
Input component 715 may refer to a built-in or communicatively
coupled keyboard, touch screen, or telecommunication device.
Further, an input component, if not built-in to computing device
700, may be communicatively coupled thereto via short-range
communication protocols including, but not limited to, radio
frequency or Bluetooth.
Output component 720 may refer to a component or module, which may
be built-in or removable from computing device 700, which is
configured to output data to an external device.
Display component 725 may refer to, e.g., a solid state display
that may have touch input capabilities. That is, a display
component may include capabilities that may be shared with or
replace those of the aforementioned input components.
Computer-readable medium 730 may refer to a separable machine
readable medium that is configured to store one or more programs
that embody any of the functions or operations described above.
That is, a computer-readable medium, which may be received into or
otherwise connected to a drive component of computing device 700,
may store executable instructions to implement any of the functions
or operations described above. These instructions may be
complimentary or otherwise independent of those stored by memory
710.
Transceiver 735 may refer to a network communication link for
computing device 700, configured as a wired network or direct-wired
connection. Alternatively, a transceiver may be configured as a
wireless connection, e.g., radio frequency (RF), infrared,
Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments
of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes
of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not
intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being
indicated by the following claims.
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